Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Kawasaki Disease—The Need for Coronary Artery Bypass

The incidence of coronary artery involvement has fallen markedly following early gammaglobulin infusions in Kawasaki disease. Nevertheless such involvement may still occur and if giant coronary aneurysms develop they are more likely to lead to myocardial ischaemia.

Two subjects are described who developed giant aneurysms, one of whom was subjected to successful coronary artery bypass following the detection of myocardial ischaemia on a nuclear perfusion scan 5 years following his acute episode. The other is being followed to detect the first signs of any ischaemia.

While all patients who develop coronary artery aneurysms following Kawasaki disease require diligent long-term review, that is especially important in the few with giant aneurysms. Early detection of significant coronary artery stenosis and its successful treatment may prevent myocardial infarction in childhood and adolescence with all its long-term consequences.